Saturday, December 31, 2011

Known for YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE in Hong Kong an Taiwan, Ko Chen-Tung and Michelle Chen yesterday came to Hong Kong to be guests at a New Year's Eve countdown event. Several dozen fans welcomed them at the airport and the event arranged for several security guards for their protection. Michelle Chen and Ko Chen-Tung reportedly received 500,000 and 250,000 to be the guests. Michelle Chen said, "Is it that much? It's too exaggerated." Ko Chen-Tung said that he did not know how much he made.

Their film YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE yesterday already broke the Stephen Chow Sing Chi directed and starred KUNG FU HUSTLE's Hong Kong highest grossing Chinese film box office record. Michelle Chen said that she read the report and was very pleased. At the same time she thanked the Hong Kong audience for its support. Ko Chen-Tung said, "Of course I am very happy. This is my first movie. Such a performance has made me very happy." As for whether they would celebrate, Michelle Chen said, "Definitely, but Giddens Ko isn't in Hong Kong. We will celebrate when we return to Taiwan."

Michelle Chen said that this would be her first countdown in Hong Kong. Although she and Ko Chen-Tung had to work separately, she still felt great. As for rumors of them working with Giddens Ko again on a new romance, Ko Chen-Tung said that he still has not received any notice. Michelle Chen looked forward to working with everyone again very much.

Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Margie Tsang Wa Sin, Christine Kuo, Samantha Ko Hoi Ning and Sire Ma Choi yesterday taped a TVB program. Chi Wai said that he just finished the Lunar New Year film I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HEUNG GONG ji HEI SEUNG GA HEI). He said that 2012 would be another war of words between him and Raymond Wong Pak Ming. He said that he knew the other cast was very strong and he hoped that everyone would be a hit at the box office. Speaking of Taiwan film YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE breaking Stephen Chow Sing Chi's KUNG FU HUSTLE box office record to be Hong Kong's top Chinese film. Chi Wai said, "I too hope Hong Kong will be able to catch up. The success of YOU had many different elements. This was a dark horse that no one would have guessed. In 2012 the Mainland would have LOVE IS NOT BLIND, which made 300 to 400 million RMB at the box office. The production cost only 6 million, which proved that super large investment was not required to be successful."

Chi Wai said that after YOU and LOVE IS NOT BLIND, the third successful film should be a Hong Kong film. Speaking of Chi Wai's son Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung's earlier production LOVER'S DISCOURSE only had an average box office performance, Chi Wai said that he would let his son start slowly. He said in 2012 he would encourage new directors to make movies. He also planned to invest on creative new directors.

Director Clifton Ko Chi Sum's ATV program aired its first episode with guest Michael Hui Koon Man, who talked about his stand up comedy performance experience. Star of many classic comedy films, Hui Koon Man said that stand up comedy was not only his performance but also his personal interest. "Back then I watched someone performed stand up comedy in the U.S. At first I didn't believe that one person would be able to make the audience laugh throughout the entire show. Later after I saw the whole performance, I indeed laughed the whole way through. It was wonderful. Since then I began to study stand up comedy. In addition I have loved to talk since I was little. Stand up comedy can satisfy my interest and hobby in this area."

Hui Koon Man performed his first Hong Kong Coliseum stand up comedy show in 2005, which not only fulfilled his dream but also was a lot of fun for him. However he thought the viewer amount would be the best around 2000 people, because this amount was able to maintain the interaction between the performer and the audience. During his stand up comedy performance he liked to cite examples and make comparisons with three people, his wife, his daughter and his brother Ricky Hui Koon Ying. He explained, "If I cited others as examples I might 'insult' them, but my wife, daughter and Koon Ying wouldn't be mad at me. Regrettably Koon Ying now has already left us!"

Tsang Chi Wai this time invited the married Leung Wing Kei to perform. Gigi and Chi Wai worked together in 1998 on HITMAN (SAT SAU JI WONG), at the time they played father and daughter. In the 2007 film DANGEROUS GAMES they played a couple. This time Gigi and Wai Chi in the film also played a couple.

This was Gigi's first film after marriage. She hoped that while she enjoyed the newlywed joy she would be able to focus on work. She revealed that her husband often visited the set. As for parenthood, Giig said that everything would take its natural course. Chi Wai joked that Gigi and her husband never left their room, seemingly they were busy "making a person". In addition, Tsang Chi Wai revealed that he will soon become a grandfather because his younger son's wife was pregnant.

Diva of a generation Anita Mui Yim Fong has passed away for eight years. Her international fan club yesterday on the anniversary of their idol's death as usual went to pay their respect to Ah Mui at the Kowloon Tong Shang Shin Chun Tong and at night they held a memorial event at Central.

Ah Mui's older brother Mui Kai Ming around noon arrived at Shang Shin Chun Tong to pay his respect to Ah Mui, after staying for awhile he left two bags of clothing and fruit before departing. Over ten Mui fans have been attentively folding offerings inside. In front of Ah Mui's tablet were a large floral arrangement with purple roses and orchids, the words "Forever Miss You", a still of Ah Mui from the film THE MAGIC CRANE (SIN HOK SUN JUM), as well as some of Ah Mui's favorite food.

This year the most special was an appreciation certificate. According to fan club president Ms. So, in the past Christmas, they on behalf of the fan club held an opening ceremony for the second Anita Mui elementary school in Ah Mui's hometown in Guangxi. The fan club donated 150,000 to rebuild a new school campus so its 279 students would have a better learning environment. The Ah Mui friends donated, the first Anita Mui elementary school has already been completed in Guizhou. Now the second elementary school has been established as well. The fan club would continue to extend Ah Mui's charitable heart in hopes of even more Anita Mui elementary schools in the future.

At night, the fan club held a memorial at Central with 200 fans in attendance. When the memorial began, the entire venue held a moment of silence.

At the entrance was a donation box. Fans with HK$100 donate would receive a Sotheby Anita Mui jewelry auction booklet, the proceed would go to the construction of the third Anita Mui elementary school. A special exhibit was set up to display photos of the founding of the second Anita Mui elementary school. Ah Mui's friends and disciples including Andy Lau Tak Wa, Sammi Cheng Sau Man and Grasshoppers all recorded videos that were shown at the memorial. They hoped that charitable people would be able to support An Hui's noble wish of gladly helping others and make donations.

Miriam Yeung Chin Wa immediately took time off after her concert last month. Although Chin Wa was rumored to be pregnant, she never confirmed it. Earlier her new film LOVE IN A BUFF (CHUN GIU YU JI MING)'s team held a celebration for the completion of the film with Media Asia boss Peter Lam Kin Ngok, Chin Wa also attended. Later leads Shawn Yue Man Lok and Yeung Chin Wa were interviewed. Playing a couple in the film, off screen they kept trading verbal jabs for laughs. With the director kept asking Chin Wa about her pregnancy rumors, Chin Wa did not know whether to laugh or to cry.

Ah Lok said as soon as he was in position for the interview, "Great, why are we so happy today? We are celebrating Chin Wa's pregnancy, hahaha. You better be careful, my mouth really stinks." Chin Wa joked, "This isn't funny, today the director had a son, his son is 90 minutes long. So everyone is celebrating." Director Pang Ho Cheung said, "Today we are celebrating the completion of the production, but the post production has not been completed yet. Now the most troublesome was too much comedy, the editing colleague said that it could be released in two parts because right now the film was longer than LORD OF THE RINGS."

Ah Lok joked, "Then are we getting paid for two movies?" The director responded, "Of course not, be more mature. Hahaha." Chin Wa suddenly at this moment said that she had good news for the director. Ah Lok said, "Huh, I really want to know, let's skip the interview. Are you pregnant?"

Chin Wa hit Ah Lok and Ah Lok continued to joked, "You are so intense, can it be true? Hahaha" Then they opened bottles of champagne to celebrate. Ah Lok who kept making fun of Chin Wa accidentally got champagne all over his pants, Chin Wa could not stop laughing. Chin Wa only raised her glass and did not touch a drop.

Tony Leung Chiu Wai played a magician in THE GREAT MAGICIAN (DAI MOR SHOOK SI), which gave him many opportunities to play with fire. He was able to control the fire and shot out a fireball. Ching Wan and Zhou Xun even had to be trapped inside a wooden home on fire. Due to the strong fire, they were sweating bullets.

Wai Jai demonstrated DRAGONBALL like ability to blow up the magic hall and the wooden home next door. The fire even trapped Ching Wan and others. With the explosion sounds everywhere, he also stated that he felt the intensity. Inside Ching Wan and Zhou Xun played a couple that was suffering the same fate in the fire. Because they had to act in the strong fire, Ching Wan joked that this was the scene that he sweat the most since FIRE LINE (SUP MAN FOR GUP). "The temperature during the shoot was warm, the fire was like being in the sauna. I even felt like I was playing a firefighter in FIRE LINE." Ching Wan did not forget to compliment Zhou Xun and said that she showed no fear in the fire.

Zhou Xun also said that Ching Wan had the quality of a good man, no wonder everyone had such high praises for him. "Ching Wan in this film had to protect me as much as possible. Due to his stature, he was very familiar when he blocked the fire from me with his body. He made people feel very safe. No wonder many viewer friends, especially female viewers, like him so much."

Thursday, December 29, 2011

The film THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) shot in Kuala Lumpur for two months. Aside from street scenes, they also shot at the Kuala Lumpur Central train station. Shooting at the national traffic center, early in the application process they ran into a variety of obstacles. Luckily they received the government's support. The team however could not request for the station to be shut down for the shoot. At every moment they had over 1,000 onlookers. With the over 100 extras, director Dante Lam Chiu Yin admitted that everyday they were in the middle of the madness.

In the film Liu Kai Chi with his granddaughter Crystal was chased to the train station. Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) followed them to help their escape. Nicholas Tse Ting Fung also arrived. They in order to lure away the enemies created a small explosion at the train station. During the shoot passengers had no idea about the shoot and screamed; Chow Kit Lun later even grabbed the girl and ran.

Uncle Chi in the film played Chow Kit Lun and Ting Fung's father. Chow Kit Lun said that Uncle Chi was an actor was very strong influence. His performance kept the younger folks on pace. The girl played Ting Fung's daughter. Before the shoot she would whine to Ting Fung. Chow Kit Lun even played magic tricks to cheer her up; both two Heavenly Kings melted at her hands.

Tang Wei in the film SPEED ANGEL (GIK CHOOK TIN SI) played a taxi driver Siu Yi who loved to drive fast. She was also very trained in kung fu as she was able to fight one against four. She was very happy about displaying her abilities on the big screen for the first time to make up for WU XIA not fulfilling her "action actress" dream.

Tang Wei received her on screen mother Cheng Pei Pei's kung fu training. She learned wholeheartedly and personally performed fight scenes. Despite all the bruises and pain she was fine, she only hoped that no one would be too picky while watching.

In the film opening she had a fierce fight scene and had to use Tai Chi. Tang Wei said that each time she was on the set, the director would change the way they fought and she would go back to learn the new style; later she realized that the director wanted to challenge her limits. After completion she had a special sense of accomplishment. Cheng Pei Pei also praised her, "Tang Wei has hope to become a new style heroine!"

The Metro Hit Radio Award 2011 took place last night. The first music industry report card presented almost 130 awards. Eason Chan Yik Shun, Joey Yung Cho Yi and Twins won four awards each as they all became singers with the most awards. Eason and Joey both won "Metro Hit Global Singer". Joey who has always longed for a recrd award this time also fulfilled her wish as she defeated her "nemesis" Eason to win the "Metro Hit Record of the Year" award.

Chan Yik Shun and Joey not only won the "Metro Hit Global Singer" award, he also won "Metro Hit Broadcast Index award" and with BITTER MELON won "Metro HIt Song of the Year". His SNOW IN JUNE and William So Wing Hong's THAT SOMEBODY both won the "Metro Hit Global Song".

Joey aside from the singer and record award also won "Metro Hit Song" with ONE FLOWER A THOUSAND TREES, while WALL PAPER won "Metro Hit Karaoke Song". Twins' 3650 received song award and they won two group awards. Metro this year added three special awards and presented the "Metro Hit Twins 10th anniversary award" to Twins, the "Metro Hit Most Outstanding Best Singer Honorary Award" to Sammi Cheng Sau Man and Andy Lau Tak Wa, "Metro Hit Most Outstanding Best Group Honorary Award" to the Grasshoppers. Earlier accused of competing fiercely to be the top diva at Universal, Kary Ng Yu Fei and Kay Tse On Kay each won two awards. At the same time the ferociously competed Rookie Award went to both Mag Lam Yun Tung and Joyce Cheng Yun Yi. Miriam Yeung Chin Wa who was pregnant and did not attend also received an award.